Intanon, Saina, Carolina, Wei enter SFs of BWF Malaysia Masters

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 8 in Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings Ratchanok Intanon, 23, Thailand, upset World No Tai Tzu Ying, 24, Taiwan, while World No 9 Saina Nehwal, 28, India beat World No 2 Nozomi Okuhara, 23, Japan, in the quarter-finals of Malayasia Masters at Axiata Arena, Kualalumpur, Malaysia, on January 18, 2019, to enter the semi-finals of the tournament.

Intanon beat top seed Tai Tzu Ying 21-13, 21-14 in 31 minutes in the quarterfinals on January 18. Intanon, the 2013 World Champion, won 42 rallies in the match to 27 by Ying. Sixth seed Intanon won 9 consecutive points in the match while Ying won 4. Intanon now leads Ying 13-10 head to head. Intanon has so far won 18 singles titles in her career.

Saina beat 2017 World Champion Okuhara, the 2nd seed, in a tough contest 21-18, 23-21 in 48 minutes in the quarter-finals on January 18. Saina won 44 rallies while Okuhara won 39. Saina won 5 consecutive points while Okuhara won 6. saina now leads Okuhara 9-4 head to head.

Reigning Olympic and World Champion Carolina Marin, 25, Spain, defeated World No 11 Sung Ji Hyun, 27, South Korea 21-13, 21-13 in 38 minutes in the quarter-finals. Carolina won 42 rallies while Hyun won 26. Caroline won 5 consecutive points in the match to 4 by Hyun. Carolina leads Hyun 8-1 head to head. Carolina will face Saina in the semi-finals on January 19, 2019.

World No 28 Goh Jin Wei, 18, Malaysia, stunned World No 7 HE Bingjiao, 21, China, 21-15, 21-16 in 39 minutes in the quarter-finals on January 18. Wei will play Intanon in the semi-finals on January 19, 2019.